Joseph w



(No Model.)

J. W, SHEPPARD.

WASHBOARD.

No. 602,479. Patented Apr. 19,1898.

J 2; )7 a w NITE STATES JOSEPH WV. SHEPPARD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,ASSIGNOR TO THE MISSISSIPPI GLASS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,479, dated April19, 1898.

Application filed November 29, 1895. Serial No. 570,473. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. SHEPPARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in YTashboards, of which the following is afull,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is afront elevational view of my improved washboard. Fig. 2 is a verticalcross-sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one ofthe loose strips. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the crosspieces.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in washboards,and particularly to the frame thereof, the rubbing-surface be ingcomposed of friable material.

The object of this invention is to construct a frame for washboardswhich will preserve the friable rubbing-surface from breakage.

With this object in View the invention consists, generally stated, inarranging two loose strips capable of independent movement on each sideof the rubbing-surface, said strips being held in place by recesses inthe ends of the cross-pieces, which are received in pockets in the siderails or legs of the frame.

Other features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my invention, all as willhereinafter be described, and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A indicates the side rails or legs of the frame, whichare preferably formed with pockets in their inner faces to receive thecross-pieces B, which frames are also preferably recessed or groovedbetween the pockets to receive the rubbing-surface O and the loosestrips D, which are preferably made of wood and which are arranged oneach side of the rubbing-surface to hold the same in place. These loosestrips are capable of independent movement to absorb any shocks or jarsand prevent the rubbing-surface from breaking should the board bepermitted to drop. To hold these loose strips in place in the grooves inthe side rails, I notch or recess the cross-pieces B at their ends, asshown at I), (see Figs. 1 and 4,) and the strips extending above andbelow the rubbing-surface into the recesses are prevented from fallingout.

E indicates the head-piece arranged at the upper ends of the side rails,which head-piece is preferably secured in place by dovetailing.

F indicates the brand-board, which is received in a groove in the underside of the head-piece at its upper end, its lower end extending down tothe top cross-piece B, forming a drip-space.

In assembling the board it is only necessary to use a small nail to keythe lower cross-piece in its pockets and nails to secure the dovetailedjoint between the head and side rails.

Nailing the brand-board on gives sufficient rigidity to the frame.

The rubbing-surface is preferably made of corrugated glass and, beingmounted between two pairs of loose strips, is not liable to break underconditions, such as the board is subjected to ordinarily,'and should theboard ever fall these loose strips will take the vibrastantially thelength of the grooves and of a width less than the space between therubbing material and side wall of the groove and loosely held in suchspaces between the rubbing-surface and groove-walls, and thesecuring-bar B having recessed ends in which the ends of theholding-strips are placed.

2. A washboard consisting of a frame having grooved side rails, arubbing-surface of friable material having its edges located in thegrooves, holding-strips of a length substantially the length of thegrooves and of a width less than the space between the rubbing-surfaceand groove-walls, and means for loosely securing the holding-strips inplace.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 23d day of November, 1895.

JOSEPH W. SHEPPARD.

Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, HUGH K. WAGNER.

